Aly & AJ's New Album, 'Silver Deliverer,' Is a Soulful Testament to Sisterhood, Change, & Creative Freedom

Grazia USA

19-05-2025

Photo courtesy of Aly & AJ
After 20 years in the spotlight, Aly & AJ Michalka are not just evolving — they're thriving. With their new album Silver Deliverer , the former Disney sister duo is embracing a profound new chapter within their music career, filled with transformation, reflection, and fearless artistry. 'Honestly… this is really my favorite piece of work we've ever put out, hands down,' AJ tells GRAZIA USA in an exclusive interview. It's a bold statement, but one that feels entirely deserved.
Silver Deliverer dropped earlier this month on May 2, following the release of their latest single 'If You Get Lonely,' and marks yet another powerful pivot in their ever-expanding discography. At once intimate and expansive, the record is a mirror of their personal lives — capturing the emotional weight of change, the beauty of resilience, and the deep bond of sisterhood that has always guided their music. A New Era of Sound: Recording Silver Deliverer in Topanga Canyon
The new album was crafted in California's Topanga Canyon with producer Jonathan Wilson, known for his work with artists like Father John Misty and Angel Olsen. The choice of setting was no accident — it became a character of its own in the record's creation.
'It was us living in a place together in Topanga Canyon during that time,' Aly remembers. 'It brought us back to living under one roof again… I remember that house and how it smelled and the food that we ate and the mornings that we took that were so just lovely and lazy, and there was no rush. Then we would just get to the studio at 2:00 or 3:00 PM; it was just heaven.'
AJ adds, 'I think the growth and just where we're at in life very much reflect the music we make and vice versa. Aly and I's taste, obviously, over the years, has evolved. We grew up, born and raised, in Southern California. We've been listening to bands like The Beach Boys and Heart for years, and that's always been a foundational reference for our harmonies and our songwriting.'
The result is a body of work that's sun-soaked, sonically expansive, and deeply rooted in who they are now — as artists, sisters, and women in their 30s. 'I just feel like it's meeting us right where we're at in our early 30s,' AJ says. 'I'm really, really proud of this record.' Deliverance Through Change: The Meaning Behind the Album Title
The celestial title Silver Deliverer isn't just poetic — it's deeply symbolic.
'When we were thinking about album titles for this album, we came upon this quite soon in the album making,' Aly says. 'From that point on, we just knew that that's what the record would be called… It felt like we were being delivered truly into this new place that we had little knowledge of, but we were just trusting in the process.'
She continues, 'I think that had to do with me becoming a mom, AJ becoming an aunt, me moving away from AJ and Laurel Canyon — because we used to live down the street from each other, and now I live a good hour and a half away from her — just a lot of things. And so we wanted the album title to capture what we were experiencing and going through.'
AJ adds, 'Her water broke on day two of pre-production, which was hilarious because he came two weeks early. Aly went home, lived with him for a solid week. I continued to work with the band, and then she came back and was able to sing parts and breastfeed him while she was in the studio. He had on his little headphones… it was really magical.'
'It was truly two babies at once,' Aly shares from the heart. Photo courtesy of Aly & AJ Breaking the Rules: Creative Risks and Musical Freedom
What makes Silver Deliverer especially powerful is its willingness to break the mold. The sisters embraced a less structured approach to songwriting and production, guided by trust in Wilson and themselves.
'We really trusted [Wilson] in his process, which was definitely a different process from past producers we had worked with,' Aly explains. 'But I think the thing that we embraced on this album was more solos and more instrumental moments on the record… We just really threw [structure of pop music] out the window… That was, I think, the most exciting part of making this record.'
AJ echoes the sentiment: 'We didn't really lead with any fear or doubt because Jonathan was so confident… The album we wanted to make was there, and it was literally just ours to reach.' A Love Letter to Sisterhood: 'I Don't Know What It Is'
One of the most emotionally resonant songs on the album, 'I Don't Know What It Is,' explores Aly's move away from LA and the ripple effect that had on their relationship.
'I think for me, 'I Don't Know What It Is' really hits hard because it is the song that represents Aly's move and the change in season of not living together or near each other as sisters anymore. Our whole lives has right down the street from each other, if not in the same house,' AJ says. 'It's made me realize that when I'm down there, the time is so important… Those moments are really important to me.'
Aly adds, 'We've never really written about a subject matter in that way… The fact that we were writing about a thing, like a home, I think it makes that song just specifically very interesting.' Healing Through Music: Aging, Motherhood, and Letting Go
Themes of self-acceptance and growth are woven throughout the album, especially in songs like 'What It Feels Like.'
''What It Feels Like' has really taught me… those things like your clothing fitting a little differently, your skin changing, your hair looking different when you pose — those things are really beautiful,' AJ shares. 'I wish as a younger kid I knew that that was coming because I would have told myself, 'You are going to have to embrace getting older and it's okay. Those things aren't going to change who you are as a person or change your DNA. They don't matter. They're surface things.''
As a new mother, Aly's perspective has also shifted: 'You just can't get to everything. You're just going to maybe have laundry that's just sitting there for five days… But you have a kid, and you've got to interact with them, and that's alright… The world kind of spins on, and it's not that big of a deal.' Looking Back with New Eyes: The Legacy of 'Rush' and 'No One'
Even their earlier songs have taken on new meaning in adulthood.
'If I'm going to go back to a song… a song like 'No One,' which is so much about embracing being yourself and loving yourself… I think that's a really beautiful message to listen to now as a woman,' Aly reflects.
AJ agrees, saying 'Rush' has become an anthem in unexpected ways. 'I really feel like the lyrics really represent a time and a place in a teenager's life, or whatever age you might be, accepting yourself who you are, being every color that you are. It also really represents our fandom,' she continues. 'They all become friends. They're all from different backgrounds, but they all somehow have this thing in common, and it's our music.' Photo courtesy of Aly & AJ Reintroducing Themselves: Aly & AJ on Call Her Daddy
Their recent appearance on Call Her Daddy reconnected them with fans old and new — and on their own terms.
'At that point, we become in command because we're here to tell our story,' AJ says. 'We had a lot of feedback from fans that didn't know we were back… And then feedback from fans who were like, 'I followed every phase.''
Aly adds, 'It was fun to be able to talk with another girl that is so in the zeitgeist and so a part of pop culture… It's always great to be stopped on the street by people that are like, 'I loved your Call Her Daddy podcast.'' Life on the Road: Tour Rituals and Staying Grounded
With a fall tour planned to support the album, Aly & AJ are ready to hit the road again — but not without their grounding rituals.
'Our number one thing on tour is rest,' AJ says. 'We really make [the bus] our sanctuary… We decorate our bunks. We make sure the kitchen is stocked with healthy foods.'
They even still do their signature handshake before shows. 'It used to be insanely long,' AJ laughs. 'We've now shortened [it]… and then just a little bit of quiet time, a little bit of prayer… That's also a really comforting place for us.' The Message Behind the Music: What They Hope Fans Take Away
At the heart of Silver Deliverer is the hope that listeners feel seen.
'I hope that people listen to this record and feel like, 'Oh, wow, I feel very centered in who I am as an adult. Even if I haven't reached exactly who I'm going to be, I'm on my way there,'' AJ says.
Aly echoes this beautifully: 'I hope that people find a song that they really connect with, that they feel was literally written for them… I do feel like there's a song on this record for everyone.' A Legacy Rewritten in Real Time
Two decades into their musical careers — with this summer marking the 20th anniversary of their iconic debut album, Into the Rush — Aly & AJ aren't chasing trends. They're creating music that reflects the women they've become — and the world they're helping to shape. Silver Deliverer isn't just a new album. It's a living, breathing journal of change, grace, and growth.
And for longtime fans and first-time listeners alike, it's an invitation to come along for the ride.
Listen to Aly and AJ's newest album, Silver Deliverer , out now.